'Brazil's number nine is playing for Brentford' - Andrews
[Getty Images] At the end of the 2024-25 campaign, it may have been hard to imagine that Brentford's record £30m signing would go on to be Brazil's number nine at the 2026 World Cup. But, after an emphatic goal-scoring season, that's the position Igor Thiago now finds himself in. Although Thiago arrived at the Gtech Stadium in fine form, having scored 18 goals in 34 Belgian league matches during Bruges' title-winning campaign, the Brazil forward was unable to replicate that in his debut Premier League season.
However, the 24-year-old has proved his worth in his second campaign, notching up 26 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. Thiago has scored 41% of the Bees' Premier League goals this term (22 out of 54), currently the highest share by a player in a single campaign since Harry Kane in 2022-23 (43% for Spurs – 30 out of 70). "It has been really special, not only for me but for all of us," Thiago told BBC Radio London.
The Bees' number nine also picked up two personal accolades at Brentford's end-of-season awards night, as he was crowned the supporters' player of the year and players' player of the year. "It has been an incredible season. It was something we had dreamed at the beginning of the season.
We are close to what we always dreamt for this club. " Keith Andrews said Thiago's World Cup call-up was "really special" and that it's a "'wow' thing to say Brazil's number nine is playing for Brentford. " With one game to go in the Bees' season, they will be firmly focused on picking up more points in their bid for European football.
" Liverpool will have their own agenda. We have our own mission that we would like to finish," added Andrews.